Duplicate printing checkwriter



March 7, 1967 H. JAGGER DUPLICATE PRINTING CHECKWRITER Filed Jan. 21,.1965

4 Sheets-Sheet l March'7, 1967 H.JAGGER 3,307,176

DUPLICATE PRINTING CHECKWRITER I Filed Jan. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet Q1,0, -.J5,161717613a 15a 17a 49 Aflsxcolfll g f @199 22 Huberi Jggjer,

March 7, 1967 H. JAGGER 3,307,476

DUPLICATE PRINTING CHECKWRITER Filed Jan. 21', 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet sgmnil r Hzzeri J 3677 l ww March 7, 1967 H. JAGGER 7 3,307,476

DUPLICATE PRINTING CHECKWRITER Filed Jan. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ji/(5L2; f/ueri Jg ez' nited States Patent 3,307,476 DUPLICATE PRINTINGCHECKWRITER Hubert Jagger, Lincolnwood, Ill., assiguor to Theodore B.Hirschberg, Jr., Chicago, 1]]. Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,867 2Claims. (Cl. 101-90) This invention relates to machines for printinginstruments for payment of money, commonly termed checkwriters, and hasto do with a machine for printing checks, money orders and analogousinstruments to be drawn for not greater than a predetermined maximumamount while simultaneously printing on a detachable stub of theinstrument the amount for which it is drawn.

My invention is directed to a machine of the character stated havingmeans whereby the maximum amount which can be printed can not exceed thepredetermined maximum amount for which the instrument may be drawn butany lesser amount within such permissible maximum may be printed, theamount for which the instrument is drawn being also simultaneouslyprinted on a stub detachably attached to the main instrument. It is alsoan object of my invention to provide means whereby the machine mayreadily be adapted to printing instruments of variable dimensions, suchas checks, postal money orders, express company orders and otherinstruments which may vary considerably in width and length. A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a checkwriter of simple and compactconstruction, which is of light weight, occupies but little space andmay readily be moved from place to place. Further objects and advantagesof my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a checkwriter embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the checkwriter of FIGURE 1, with thehousing removed;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the checkwriter of FIGURE 1 with thehousing shown fragmentarily and broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of FIGURE 3,with the upper portion of the housing shown in section and the lowerportion thereof omitted and the base portion partly broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIGURE2;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the forward portion of the base section ofthe housing and a blank positioning plate thereon, with a blank to beprinted upon indicated in dotted lines; and

FIGURE 7 is a face View of a blank printed by the checkwriter of myinvention.

The machine shown and described herein is generally similar to thoseshown in my Patents 2,826,140 and 2,853,001, except as to those featureshaving to do with my present invention. It includes a housing 1, to bereferred to more fully later, suitably mounted upon the main frame ofthe machine. The main frame comprises side frame members or plates 2 and3 of irregular polygonal shape each provided with a forwardly extendingbase element 4 defining, with the body of the plate, a slot 5 forinsertion of the check, money order, or analogous instrument into themachine. The side frame plates 2 and 3 are secured together, in spacedparallel relation, by cross rods 6 suitably secured therein.

A cross shaft 7 is mounted in the plates 2 and 3, by means of reducedstuds at the ends of the shaft providing shoulders which abut the innerfaces of the plates and restrain the shaft against endwise movement. Asum or prefix bar post 8 is mounted at its upper end on 3,307,476 laterlted Mar. 7, l 967 shaft 7, a short distance inward from the leftside plate 2, and is secured at its lower end to a guide bar 9 extendingtransversely of the main frame and secured at its ends in the plates 2and 3, bar 9 being disposed a short distance rearward of the lower endof post 8. A prefix plate 10 is slidably mounted on the lower end post8. It is yieldingly urged inward and controlled in the same manner as inmy above identified patent and need not be described in further detailhere. Sufiice it to state that the prefix plate 10 is movable inwardinto contact with the nearest printing member or segment then inprinting position, incident to a printing operation and is returned toits normal outer position upon completion of such operation, in asuitable known manner.

A first series of printing members or type segments 13, 14, 15, 16 and17 are mounted for turning movement on shaft 7, these segments beingdisposed between the upper end of prefix post 8 and a spacing collar 18on shaft 7 at approximately the midlength thereof. Segment 13 is spacedinward from prefix post 8 by a spacing collar 19 on shaft 7, and theremaining segments are spaced from each other and from segments 13 and17 by spacing collars 20 on shaft 7. Each of the segments is providedwith a type bar having upon its printing surface a series of printingcharacters ranging from zero to nine, as is known. The guide bar 9 is ofapproximately L-shape in cross section and is slotted to receive andguide the printing segments. The characters which are used for printingin a given printing operation are those which are disposed in alignmentwith the prefix plate 10, defining therewith the printing line of themachine, immediately in front of the forward edge of the guide bar 9.

Each of the printing segments 13 to 17, inclusive, has a forwardlyadjusting arm 21 secured thereto and suitably shaped and disposed toproject through a slot in cover plate 22 of housing 1. A numbered indexstrip 23 is secured to each arm 21 and is disposed approximately inconcentric relation to the corresponding segment. The cover plate 22 isfurther provided with suitably disposed windows or openings 24 throughwhich the numbers of the index strips 23 are displayed for indicatingthe setting of the respective segments, as is known. Each of the typesegments is provided at its forward end with a notch 25 extending fromthe zero character thereof, for a purpose to be explained presently. Thefirst three segments 13, 14 and 15 are dollar segments and the last twosegments 16 and 17 are cent segments. The printing characters of thelatter two segments are smaller than those of the first three segmentsand a short underscoring cross bar is disposed beneath each character,as will be apparent from FIGURE 7. Further, the second cent segment isprovided, at the right face thereof, with a supplementary type bar 176attached thereto bearing an abbreviation for cent aligned with therespective type characters on the type bar of that segment and a shortunderscoring bar underlying each such abbreviation.

Each of the printing segments 13 to 17 has a two way rack 27 whichextends a substantial distance radially outward beyond the hub portionof the segment, opposite the type bar thereof. The racks 27 extendapproximately one half the circumference of the respective segments andare slotted for the major portion of their extent, for

tate adjustment of the respective segments. As will be understood fromthe above, the segments 13 to 17, inelusive, may be adjustedindividually about shaft 7 to desired positions. The first slot 30 incover plate 22 is of such length and so disposed that the first segment13 can be turned downward and forward to position with the notch 25thereof disposed on the printing line, and can not be turned upward andrearward beyond its 1 printing position. The second slot 31 in plate 22has its lower end at the plane of the lower end of slot 30 and is ofsuch length that the corresponding segment 14 can be adjusted throughoutits full range, from non-printing position to 9 printing position. It isimportant, as will be explained later, that the first printing segment13 be not turned to a printing position beyond its 1 position. As afurther safe guard against that, a stop 32 is secured to the left sideof rack 27 of segment 13 and is disposed to contact index bar 28 whensegment 13 is in its 1 printing position. The three remaining slots 33,34 and 35 are shorter than slot 31, with their upper ends in the planeof the upper end of slot 31 and their lower end in a common plane spacedabove the lower ends of slots 30 and 31 a distance such that thecorresponding segments 15, 16 and 17 can be turned from zero printingposition to nine printing position, but can not be turned to nonprintingposition. Briefly, printing segment 13 can be adjusted fromnon-printingposition to I printing position only, segment 14 can beadjusted from non-printing position to nine printing position, andsegments 15, 16 and 17 can be adjusted from zero printing position tonine printing position only.

A second series of printing members or type segments 13a, 14a, 15a, 16aand 17a are mounted for turning movement on shaft 7, between collar 18and a collar 37 on shaft 7 adjacent side frame plate 3, such segmentsbeing spaced apart by spacing collars 38. The segments of the secondseries are the same as those of the first series, with the racks 27 ofthe latter and the supplementary type bar 17b of segment 17 omitted, andneed not be described in greater detail 'here. The segments of thesecond series are respectively secured to segments 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17of the first series by rigid connecting members in the form ofsubstantially L-shaped brackets 13c, 14c, 15c, 16c and 170 fixed attheir ends to the segments of both series. The bight portions ofbrackets 13c to 160, inclusive, pass through the slots in the racks 27of the segments 13 to 16, inclusive of the first series. The slots insuch racks are of adequate length to permit adjustment of thecorresponding segments to permissible maximum extent in eitherdirection. The bracket 170 is secured to the rack of the last segment 17of the first series and to the last segment 17a of the second series.The bracket 13c securing segments 13 and 13:: together is disposednearest to shaft 7 with the radial distance from the shaft of thebrackets connecting successive segments increasing, the bracket 17cconnecting segment 17 of the first series to segment 17a of the secondseries being the greatest radial distance from shaft 7. The brackets 130to 170, inclusive, are so disposed that when a given segment of thefirst series is adjusted to a given position the corresponding segmentof the second series will be adjusted to the same position. For example,if segment 13 is adjusted to I printing position segment 13a will alsobe adjusted to I printing position, if segment 15 is adjusted to 7printing position segment 15a will be adjusted to 7 printing position,etc. It is contemplated that in use of the machine the first segment 17will be adjusted to either its 1 printing position or its non-printingposition.

The printing members or type segments of both series cooperate with aplaten 41 mounted on the forward ends of two arms 42 rockably mounted ona shaft 43 having reduced ends mounted in base elements 4 of side frameplates 2 and 3. The rearward ends of arms 42 are connected to a toggle44 pivoted at its upper end between plates 2 and 3. The pintle of toggle44 is connected by a link 45 to a cam 46 pivoted on side frame plate 3.An

operating lever 47 is attached to earn 46 and normally extends upwardlyand rearwardly therefrom. Inking means, comprising a pan 48 and aninking roll 49 therein, is provided in front of the printing line. Inthe normal position of operating lever 47 the point of cam 46 contactsan end extension of inking roll 49 and holds it down out of contact withthe printing characters on the printing line. In performing a printingoperation the lever 47 is swung downward and forward. In the initialmovement of lever 47 the inking roll 49 is released and is moved byspring means, upward into contact with the printing characters on theprinting line. In the continued movement of lever 47 the inking roll isrolled across the printing characters, in pressure contact therewith,effective for inking them. The ink pan 48, with inking roller 49 is thenswung upward and forward of platen 41 and the latter is moved upwardinto pressure contact with the money order blank or other instrument tobe printed, previously inserted into the machine between the printingsegments and platen 41, completing the printing operation. The operatinglever 47 is then released and is returned by spring means to its normalposition. The inking means and associated parts may be similar to thoseshown in my above identified Patent 2,853,001, with the exception of theuse of a single inking roller, or may be similar to the inking ribbonmeans shown in my above identified Patent 2,826,140. The particularinking means and operating means therefor are not essential to mypresent invention and need not be described here in greater detail, itbeing noted that any suitable known inking means and associated elementsmay be used.

A clearing yoke 52 of substantially inverted U-shape and appropriatelyformed bridges both series of printing segments and has its armsrockably mounted on shaft 7. The left arm of yoke 52 is disposed betweenthe upper end of prefix post 8 and a spacing collar 53 on shaft 7adjacent side frame plate 2 and the right arm is disposed adjacent theouter end of spacing collar 37 of shaft 7 at the outer face of printingsegment 17a. The yoke 52 normally is held in an upper position, incontact with a yielding bumper 55 fixed to the inner face of side frameplate 3, by a torsion spring coiled around collar 53 with one endanchored to an upper cross rod 6 and its other end attached to the leftarm of yoke 52. Upon completion of a printing operation, during thereturn movement of the operating lever 47 the clearing yoke 52 is swungdownward and forward and returns to their normal positions thosesegments which may have been moved from such positions, after which theyoke is released and returned to its normal position. The means foroperating the clearing yoke may be similar to that of the GoppertonPatent 3,142,251. The particular means used for that purpose is notessential to my present invention and any suitable known means may beprovided for that purpose.

Referring to FIGURE 6, a substantially rectangular blank positioningplate 60 is removably secured by screws 61 and nuts threaded on theirlower ends, to the top wall of base section 62 of housing 1. The plateis provided with a substantially T-shaped opening 62 which accommodatesupward movement of platen 41 and arms 42 incident to a printingoperation. A shelf 63 extends inwardly of opening 62 and is provided atits right hand end with an upwardly extending tab 64 spaced rearwardlyof and aligned with a similar tab 65 bent upwardly from the body ofplate 60. The rearward portion of shelf 63 is bent forwardly anddownwardly providing a flange 66 spaced above shelf 63 and definingtherewith a slot or groove for reception of the paper or instrument tobe printed upon. As will be understood, the plate 60 extends into slot 5a proper distance for accurately positioning therein the money order oranalogous blank in respect to the printing line of the machine.

The machine illustrated by way of example is intended for printingAmerican Express Company money orders in amounts less than two hundreddollars. Accordingly, the prefix plate has on its printing face-AmexcoThe money order blank to be printed upon, with its attached stub, is sopositioned by the plate 60 that the amount for which it is to be drawnwill be printed at the proper location on the main or body portion ofthe blank, and the same amount will be simultaneously printed on thestub, which may then be severed from the body portion. As previouslynoted, the maximum amount which the first segment 13 can be set to printis I. Accordingly, the maximum amount which the machine can print is onehundred ninety nine dollars and ninety nine cents. If the amount to beprinted is less than one hundred dollars, the first segment preferablyis adjusted to its nonprinting position, though it could be adjusted tozero printing position. In either case, the amount printed would be lessthan one hundred dollars. If the amount to be printed is less than tendollars the first two segments 13 and 14 are adjusted to non-printingpositon. In such case the prefix plate is moved inwardly, incident tothe printing operation into contact with segment 14 and is returned toits normal outer position in the return movement of operating lever toits normal position, in a known manner. That results in thenotation-Amexco $being printed immediately in advance of the amount forwhich the instrument is drawn. When the amount to be printed is lessthan one dollar, the segments 13 and 14 should be adjusted tonon-printing position, and segment 15 should be adjusted to Zeroprinting position. The amount then printed, less than a dollar, isimmediately preceded by a zero immediately preceded by the abovenotation.

The machine illustrated is, as noted above, intended for printingAmerican Express Company money orders. The form or blank positioningplate 60 may readily be removed and replaced. By providing positioningplates of appropriate forms, the machine may readily be adapted forprinting on money order or check blanks, with detachable stubs, ofvarious sizes, as will be understood. The detachable stubs are desirableas providing .a record of the instruments printed and the amounts forwhich the respective instruments are drawn.

As above indicated, and as will be understood, changes in detail may beresorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention,and I intend to include .all such variations as fall within the scope ofthe appended claims, in this application in which the preferred formonly of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a checkwriter, a frame, a transverse shaft mounted in said frame,means defining a printing line, a first series of printing type segmentsmounted on said shaft and individually adjustable thereabout, a secondseries of printing segments mounted on said shaft and individuallyadjustable thereabout, the segments of said second series being similarto those of said first series and the segments of both series havingprinting characters selectively positionable on the printing line byadjustment of said segments, brackets respectively fixed to the segmentsof the first series and to the corresponding segments of the secondseries, said brackets being spaced increasingly greater distancesradially from said shaft and effective for adjusting the respectivesegments of the second series similarly to adjustment of the segments ofthe first series and incident thereto, platen means cooperating with theprinting characters disposed on the printing line, and operating meansfor elfecting a printing operation.

2. In a checkwriter, a frame, a transverse shaft mounted in said frame,means defining a printing line, a first series of printing type segmentsmounted on said shaft and individually adjustable thereabout, a secondseries of printing segments mounted on said shaft and individuallyadjustable thereabout, the segments of said second series being similarto those of said first series and the segments of both series havingprinting characters selectively positionable on the printing line byadjustment of said segments, a slotted index bar adjacent said segments, arcuate slotted racks secured to the segments of said firstseries and extending into the slots of said bar, brackets respectivelysecuring all but the last of the racks of the segments of said firstseries to all but the last of the segments of said second series andpassing through the slots of said racks, a bracket securing the lastsegment of the first series to the last segment of the second series,said brackets being spaced increasingly greater distances radially fromsaid shaft and the slots in said racks being of an extent to accommodatemaximum permissible adjustment of the respective segments of bothseries, platen means cooperating with the printing charcters disposed onthe printing line, and operating means for effecting a printingoperation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,145 11/1926Tingley 101-90 X 1,728,826 9/1929 Gruttmann 10195 1,765,859 6/1930Bartel 101407 1,909,141 5/1933 Woodward et a1 10195 1,957,167 5/1934Hoffman 10190 2,019,442 10/1935 Buehler 101-90 X 2,070,763 2/1937 Ward101-95 2,539,949 1/1951 Ericsson 10190 2,826,140 3/1958 Jagger 101962,853,001 9/1958 Jagger 101-95 2,928,343 3/1960 Mintz 101407 WILLIAM B.PENN, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A CHECKWRITER, A FRAME, A TRANSVERSE SHAFT MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME,MEANS DEFINING A PRINTING LINE, A FIRST SERIES OF PRINTING TYPE SEGMENTSMOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE THEREABOUT, A SECONDSERIES OF PRINTING SEGMENTS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND INDIVIDUALLYADJUSTABLE THEREABOUT, THE SEGMENTS OF SAID SECOND SERIES BEING SIMILARTO THOSE OF SAID FIRST SERIES AND THE SEGMENTS OF BOTH SERIES HAVINGPRINTING CHARACTERS SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE ON THE PRINTING LINE BYADJUSTMENT OF SAID SEGMENTS, BRACKETS RESPECTIVELY FIXED TO THE SEGMENTSOF THE FIRST SERIES AND TO THE CORRESPONDING SEGMENTS OF THE SECONDSERIES, SAID BRACKETS BEING SPACED INCREASINGLY GREATER DISTANCESRADIALLY FROM SAID SHAFT AND EFFECTIVE FOR ADJUSTING THE RESPECTIVESEGMENTS OF THE SECOND SERIES SIMILARLY TO ADJUSTMENT OF THE SEGMENTS OFTHE FIRST SERIES AND INCIDENT THERETO, PLATEN MEANS COOPERATING WITH THEPRINTING CHARACTERS DISPOSED ON THE PRINTING LINE, AND OPERATING MEANSFOR EFFECTING A PRINTING OPERATION.